Bangkok: Ekaniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has initiated a call for a comprehensive review of the "State Welfare Card" eligibility criteria, emphasizing the necessity to ensure support is directed to those in genuine need. This announcement comes amidst findings of outdated data that reveal shifts in income and demographics, including increased incomes and deaths over the past five years.
According to Thai News Agency, the review proposal, which Ekniti plans to submit to the Cabinet, stems from a meeting held during the 29th anniversary of the National Press Council. Ekaniti highlighted that while a new survey by the Ministry of Interior identifies approximately 5 million individuals, it failed to account for those living in poverty without income or assets. The original eligible group of about 13.2 million people, surveyed five years ago, also requires reassessment due to changes such as deaths and increased incomes.
Ekaniti advocates for a meticulous review of data involving nearly 19 million individuals, including those overlooked by previous government databases. This review aims to ensure that welfare support reaches the truly needy, such as the elderly without family support. The focus will not be solely on whether the number of beneficiaries exceeds 14 million but on effectively addressing genuine needs.
Amidst these welfare reforms, Ekaniti reaffirmed the government's commitment to advancing its investment policies this year, despite a reduction in the investment fund proportion in the budget. Highlighting the "Thailand Fast Pass" initiative, he assured that investment would be bolstered through public-private partnerships, the Thailand Future Fund, and foreign direct investment, circumventing the budgetary constraints.
As the Chair of the Board of Investment, Ekaniti set an ambitious target for the "Thailand Fast Pass" projects, aiming for investments between 900 billion to 1 trillion baht. These efforts are expected to stimulate the Thai economy and improve the country's long-term competitiveness. The strategy includes a transition to the Thailand Fast Pass system, which mandates a minimum 20% investment by promoters within the year and emphasizes technology transfer and skill development for the Thai workforce.
Despite budget limitations due to increased transparency of recurring expenses, Ekaniti expressed confidence that investment could be enhanced through private and state-owned enterprise investments. The government is set to continue promoting such investments actively.
In a lighter moment, when questioned about rumors of a potential "backup prime minister," Ekaniti humorously deflected by laughing off speculative initials, further engaging with reporters before concluding the interview.